Email: Webmaster@IndianCoins.Org

Indian Coins and Kanishka 002

Kanishka-Helios Pic: Gold coin of Kanishka I with the Hellenistic divinity Helios. (c. 120 AD). Obverse: Kanishka standing, clad in heavy Kushan coat and long boots, flames emanating from shoulders, holding a standard in his left hand, and making a sacrifice over an altar. Greek legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΚΑΝΗšΚΟΥ "[coin] of Kanishka, king of kings". Reverse: Standing Helios in Hellenistic style, forming a benediction gesture with the right hand. Legend in Greek script: ΗΛΙΟΣ Helios. Kanishka monogram (tamgha) to the left.

Kanishka and Buddhism: Kanishka’s reputation in Buddhist tradition is based mainly on the Buddhist tradition that he convened the 4th Buddhist Council in Kashmir.

Read the rest of this entry »

Indian Coins and Kanishka 001

KanishkaCoin3

Picture: Gold coin of Kanishka I (late issue, c.150 AD). Kanishka standing, clad in heavy Kushan coat and long boots, flames emanating from shoulders, holding standard in his left hand, and making a sacrifice over an altar. Bactrian legend in Greek script ("Shaonanoshao Kanishki Koshano"): "King of Kings, Kanishka the Kushan".

Kanishka (Kushan language: Κανηϸκι, Middle Chinese: 迦腻色伽) was a king of the Kushan Empire in Central Asia, ruling an empire extending from Bactria to large parts of India in the 2nd century of the common era, famous for his military, political, and spiritual achievements. His main capital was at Peshawar (Purushpura) in northwestern Pakistan, with regional capitals at the location of the modern city of Taxila in Pakistan, Begram in Afghanistan and Mathura in India.

Read the rest of this entry »